Chinese researchers have moved a step closer to understanding one of physics’ toughest puzzles, high-temperature superconductivity, by creating new nickel-based materials that operate at room temperature.
A team led by Xue Qikun at Southern University of Science and Technology, along with collaborators from the University of Science and Technology of China, reported their findings in the journal Nature.
The study introduces two new nickel-based superconductors and sheds light on their atomic-level behavior.
Superconductivity is a state in which electricity flows without resistance. This means no energy is lost as heat.
Scientists have long tried to achieve this at higher temperatures because it can transform power grids, sensors, and quantum computers. While copper- and iron-based superconductors have been studied for years, nickel-based systems are newer and far more difficult to work with.
READ ALSO: A 150-Year-Old Geometry Rule Just Failed; Mathematicians Found the Proof
Nickel-based superconductors need a very high oxidation state to function. But achieving that state usually makes the material unstable. This has slowed progress in the field for years.
To solve this, the team used a method called strong oxidation atomic-layer epitaxy. This technique allows scientists to build materials one atomic layer at a time while maintaining extreme oxidation conditions. It gives precise control over how atoms are arranged, which is critical for creating stable superconducting materials.
Using this approach, the researchers improved an existing nickel-based material. They raised the superconducting transition temperature from 45 kelvin to 63 kelvin. This means the material can enter the superconducting state at a higher temperature than before.
The team also designed entirely new structures by carefully arranging atomic layers. Two of these newly created materials showed superconductivity at 50 kelvin and 46 kelvin. Importantly, all of these results were achieved under ambient pressure, making the findings more practical for real-world use.
WATCH ALSO: China commissions world’s largest open-sea offshore solar photovoltaic project
Beyond material creation, the researchers also explored why these materials behave the way they do. They used advanced techniques to study their electronic structure. The results showed that superconducting samples share a common feature near the Fermi surface, a key region that determines how electrons behave in a material.
The scientists say this observation directly links atomic structure with electronic properties and superconductivity. It provides strong experimental evidence about how superconductivity emerges in nickel-based systems.
The study also opens the door for comparisons between nickel-, copper-, and iron-based superconductors. Researchers believe such comparisons may finally explain how high-temperature superconductivity works, a question that has remained unanswered for decades.
READ ALSO: Robotic Hand Achieves 91% Success Grasping Fragile Objects on First Attempt
The findings may help guide future research in energy transmission, advanced electronics, and quantum technologies. By understanding how to design better superconductors, scientists are moving closer to building systems that are faster, more efficient, and more reliable.
